A Few Thoughts on Political Elections…and Beyond

If you’re as disgusted with politics as I am, I congratulate you for reading past the title above. So I first say thank you.

While others yield to the temptation to wax eloquent on this or that candidate or decry the state of affairs, I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’d like to look at a bigger picture as set forth in three passages from the Scriptures. They help us understand the world we must be prepared to live in because they explain much about political elections and beyond.

Chapter 4 in the Old Testament Book of Daniel gives us an account of the astonishing fall and restoration of the mighty Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. We would do well to remember his words from verse 17 so we won’t be surprised by the vulgarity, corruption and just plain evil we see from those in power.

I’ll put the key concept of this verse in italics. It says:

17. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Shocking, isn’t it? Wouldn’t you think God would want the best of men to run things?

I can’t account for it, except to say God is sovereign, and He has His reasons. All I’m doing is pointing it out.

Let’s take things a step further. Jesus had a telling exchange with the devil when He was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. Here’s what it says in Luke 4:5-8. Again, I’ll put a key concept in italics.

5. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Did you notice what Jesus didn’t say? He didn’t argue with Satan about his power to give kingdoms to whoever he wanted.

There’s really no contradiction at all. Notice the phrase I put in bold in Luke 4:6. God has delivered power over the kingdoms of this world to the devil. It’s a holding action until He comes one day to make things right.

The apostle Paul makes a reference to the concept of the devil’s dominance in Ephesians 2:2 when he refers to how believers lived as unbelievers.

2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

With these points in mind, how much does it matter who you vote for? Vote your conscience. Or don’t vote at all.

But why should we be surprised by what we see going on? What if you and I lived in a society where corruption is a way of life?

I’m talking about a real world scenario in which the system isn’t merely corrupt. Corruption is the system. America is headed that direction.

All of this may sound pessimistic and fatalistic. But in order to be prepared to live in this present world, we have to see the reality of things as they are, not as we might like them to be.

My advice? If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, remember this world is not our home. We’re only passing through. There’s much you and I can’t do anything about. So we should focus on what we can do today to live for the Lord as best as we can right where we are.